Federal University Dutse research team says it has received 27 million naira research grant from the TETfund National Research Fund to conduct research into hydrocarbon as alternative fuel to power cars and trains.
The Lead Researcher, Dr. Hafeez Yusuf Hafeez of the Physics Department of the University disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse.
He said the use of hydrocarbon as an alternative source of fuel is an emerging field in the world of science and the research was aimed at exploring this new area whose raw material is water and sunlight.
Dr Hafeez Yusuf further explained that, the research was relatively new in Africa but had gained some momentum in USA, France, Japan, Canada and Germany where cars using hydrocarbon was already in use while Japan had even gone ahead to power trains with hydrocarbon.
According to him, the research is a continuation of his Ph.D thesis which won the best African research in India because of the novelty of the area, pointing out that no one is working in this area currently in Africa.
The Lead Researcher said the need for alternative fuel became a global concern due to the adverse effect of fossil fuel on the environment especially climate change and global warming.
He noted that hydrocarbon fuel which was produced from sunlight and water is cheap, clean and environmentally friendly.
Dr Hafeez Yusuf Hafeez expressed his gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor ,Professor Abdulkarim Sabo Mohammed for all his support and encouragement to his many research ideas.
Radio Nigeria reports that, the team of researchers include Professors Abdulsalam Balarabe Suleiman, Chifu Ndiklar and Dr Jibrin Mohammed.
Others also include Professor Rabi’a Salihu of Bayero University kano, and Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad of Sokoto State University.
USMAN MZ